| Most dog owners find dog crates to be an | | | | heavy, and even plastic ones that are lighter tend to |
| indispensable piece of equipment. The option to | | | | be awkward to move. The fabric-on-frame design of |
| secure one's dog in a confined space at night, in the | | | | soft dog crates makes them light, easy to lift, and |
| car, or simply whenever it's convenient is a great | | | | easy to break down for storage or transport. This |
| convenience. Dogs, too, seem to enjoy the security | | | | makes them popular among those who have limited |
| and comfort of a dog crate once accustomed to | | | | space in their home or car, and do not use the item |
| them. When shopping for a dog crate, dog owners | | | | on a daily basis. People who take their dogs camping |
| have many choices to make- size, brand, and design | | | | also find soft dog crates useful, as they can be |
| all play a part in choosing the perfect dog crate. The | | | | packed easily. The elderly or disabled, or anyone who |
| most common crates are a simple plastic shell with a | | | | has difficulty lifting heavy objects, should consider |
| metal grated door. However, there are also a wide | | | | this advantage to a soft dog crate. |
| range of "soft" dog crates, made from fabric on a | | | | Similarly, soft dog crates differ from rigid ones in |
| lightweight metal frame. For many dog owners, soft | | | | cleaning. Metal or plastic dog crates must be |
| crates offer great advantages over other varieties. | | | | hand-washed. Although many offer removable floor |
| Here are some points to consider if you're thinking of | | | | pans in case of "accidents", these must still be |
| buying a soft dog crate. | | | | scrubbed clean. A residual scent left by dog waste |
| Firstly, cost varies widely between different dog | | | | may encourage the dog to re-soil the crate. Soft dog |
| crate types. The cheapest, which are typically sturdy | | | | crates, on the other hand, can typically be |
| wire cages with a removable plastic pan, cost as little | | | | disassembled machine-washed. This is generally more |
| as $20, while some designer models run as high as | | | | convenient than hand-washing, although one should |
| $600. Soft crates typically run between $40 and | | | | keep in mind that fabric is more likely to stain as a |
| $120, depending on the size, model, and brand. The | | | | result of dog waste than plastic or metal. |
| cheapest soft dog crates will be no frills- just six | | | | On that note, aesthetics are one more reason many |
| sides and a zipper- while more expensive models may | | | | dog owners prefer soft dog crates. Wire cages have |
| offer various extra features: locking mechanisms, | | | | an "institutional" look that some find unappealing, and |
| reinforced seams, rubberized feet, loops for ground | | | | plastic models tend to lack style. Many soft dog |
| stakes, side pockets, and others. Depending on your | | | | crates are designed with the same attention to lines, |
| budget, you may choose to take advantage of | | | | color, and utility that one might find in a trendy |
| some of these extras, or not. | | | | backpack. Although no one can say whether or not |
| However, even the most high-end, pricey soft crates | | | | dogs appreciate these little details, style-conscious |
| will be reduced to a worthless pile of scraps in no | | | | dog owners certainly do. |
| time at all if its resident chooses to destroy it. Unlike | | | | All taken together, soft dog crates are ideal for |
| hard plastic or metal crates, soft dog crates are not | | | | those pet owners who: |
| appropriate for vigorous chewers, or dogs who are | | | | - Have limited space in their car or homeowners |
| not yet kennel-trained and may try to escape. Given | | | | - Must frequently transport their dog crate by hand |
| enough time, a distressed, struggling dog will easily | | | | - Own dogs that are calm, crate-trained, and not |
| tear through mesh, rip out seams, and break zippers. | | | | prone to chewing |
| And even the small teeth of a puppy will make short | | | | - Prefer a dog crate to be aesthetically pleasing |
| work of fabric if it chooses to chew on its home. For | | | | - Are willing to pay slightly more over a comparable |
| these reasons, soft crates should only be used for | | | | hard dog crate |
| dogs that are trained and already comfortable in a | | | | Hopefully, this has been an informative and helpful |
| crate. | | | | guide to choosing a dog crate. We wish you and |
| Where soft dog crates lose out on durability, they | | | | your pets cozy nights, safe travels, and all the best in |
| excel in convenience. Large metal crates can be quite | | | | your adventures together. |